Shloka 25

Svāyambhuva Lineage to Dakṣa; Pṛthu’s Devotion; Pāśupata Saṃnyāsa; Dakṣa–Satī Episode

Devanagari script

तत्र धर्मपदं नाम धर्मसिद्धिप्रदं वनम् / अपश्यद् योगिनां गम्यमगम्यं ब्रह्मविद्विषाम्

Transliteration

tatra dharmapadaṃ nāma dharmasiddhipradaṃ vanam / apaśyad yogināṃ gamyamagamyaṃ brahmavidviṣām

Translation

അവിടെ ‘ധർമ്മപദം’ എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള വനത്തെ അവൻ കണ്ടു; അത് ധർമ്മസിദ്ധി നൽകുന്നതാണ്—യോഗികൾക്ക് ഗമ്യം, ബ്രഹ്മവിദ്വേഷികൾക്ക് അഗമ്യം.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa/Adhikaraṇa (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• dharma-padam: (a place called) Dharmapada
• dharma-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (dharmasya padam = ‘place/step of dharma’)

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Naming marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः अव्ययीभावेन (indeclinable ‘named/called’)

• dharma-siddhi-pradam: granting success in dharma
• dharma-siddhi-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vanam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (dharmasiddhiṃ pradadāti iti)

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• apaśyat: saw
• apaśyat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• yoginām: of yogins
• yoginām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• gamyam: accessible
• gamyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vanam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gamya (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √gam)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-यत्/भाव्य (fit to be gone to)

• agamyam: inaccessible
• agamyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vanam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-gamya (प्रातिपदिक; negated)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निषेध (negation)

• brahma-vit-dviṣām: of those who hate Brahman-knowers
• brahma-vit-dviṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive of exclusion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vit (प्रातिपदिक; from √vid) + dviṣ (प्रातिपदिक; from √dviṣ ‘to hate’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (brahmavidaḥ dviṣaḥ = haters of knowers of Brahman)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the journey; traditionally framed within the Sūta–Śaunaka narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dharmapada
• Brahmavid
• Yogins

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By contrasting the yogin with the “brahmavid-dveṣin,” it implies that realization of Brahman/Ātman is approached through reverence for Brahmavidyā and its teachers; hostility to that wisdom blocks access to the highest good symbolized by Dharmapada.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic eligibility (adhikāra): inner discipline, purity, and alignment with Brahmavidyā. “Gamyam to yogins” suggests that sacred places and dharma-siddhi are reached through yoga—restraint, contemplation, and devotion—rather than mere physical travel.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s integrative stance: dharma-siddhi is for yogins devoted to Brahman-knowledge (a shared Shaiva–Vaishnava ideal), while sectarian hostility toward true knowers of Brahman is portrayed as spiritually obstructive.